Abattoir workers devastated by sudden sacking

Stuart Cumming
Reporter
Stuart studied journalism at the University of Southern Queensland in Toowoomba. He worked briefly at Central Queensland News and Warwick Daily News. He has worked as a reporter at The Chronicle since July 2009.

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TANYA Prause is devastated after having her 11 years of service in the McClymonts Poultry abattoir boning room dismissed in a three-line memo.

She, her colleagues and Australasian Meat Industry Employee's Union officials are also angry that local jobs are being filled by workers travelling from the Brisbane area.

The Christmas job cuts came as agents tried to secure a buyer for the plant.

Miss Prause said some staff members had concerns about job security after the business was placed into the administration of BDO Accountants in August.

"We asked him (a manager) if our jobs were safe," Miss Prause said.

"He said our jobs were safe."

However, Miss Prause and at least 20 of her fellow long-term casual boning room staff were shocked by a memo stuck to the boning room door yesterday morning advising they were excess to the company's requirements.

She said their separation certificates had been printed out in anticipation.

"We had to go into the office this morning and get them."

Fellow sacked employee Julie Chambers said she was shocked.

"I started having a bit of a cry, actually," Miss Chambers said.

"I felt sick.

"To happen at this time of year, right on Christmas, I thought we were a little bit safer than this."

She and her colleagues were desperate to find out if they could get their jobs back.

"None of us wants to go on the dole."

Australasian Meat Industry Employee's Union secretary Brian Crawford said the sacking of the workers was disgraceful.

He said he understood more than 25 workers on a mix of holiday and working visas were filling roles at McClymonts.

"There is just absolutely no excuse for any employer to replace locals with people on working visas or holiday visas," Mr Crawford said.

He said he had asked the company to reinstate the sacked workers at least until union representatives met with the company next Tuesday.

"We won't be stopping until this is sorted out."

The Chronicle contacted McClymonts and administrators BDO Accountants but did not receive a response.